NKF Kidney Walk

I've been fortunate so far in my life that few major diseases have touched my close family and friends. The exception to that is my mom, Marcy, who has suffered from Lupus for many years. To paraphrase Wikipedia, lupus is a disease in which the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissues, especially the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Symptomatically, my mom has basically been in remission for quite a while now. But over the years, the disease attacked and weakened her kidneys to the point of imminent failure.

About five years ago, Mom started doing dialysis and got on the kidney transplant waiting list. About a year later the family of a young man who died in an accident donated his organs, and his kidney was a match for my mom.

The transplant was a success, and my mom has been living a healthy, active life ever since! I'm so thankful that she's still here with me!

Since the transplant, my mom has become active in the local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation. She's served as a mentor for other patients awaiting transplants and has raised money at the annual Kidney Walks. These funds go toward increasing awareness about kidney disease, funding research for treatment and helping kidney disease patients and their families.

This year's Kidney Walk is September 13, 2009 in Ann Arbor, MI, and it's fundraising time! Please visit my mom's personal fundraising page by clicking below. Check it out, and if you can, donate and pass it on to other people who might want to join in the fight against kidney disease.

Visit Marcy's personal fundraising page!

Thanks so much!